Window construction



April 24, 1956 J. J. KLEE 2,742,676

wmnow CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 5, 1951 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 4/: ATTORNEY! April 24, J. J. KLEE 2,7421676 WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 3, 1951 4 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR {1, ATTORNEY-.9

JOSEPH J. KLEE,

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A6 Q @Q A ril 24, 1956 J. J. KLEE WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 3, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ma gy-1 INVENTOR 4/0 ATTORNEYJ April 24, 1956 J. J. KLEE wmnow cousmucnon 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 3, 1951 INVENTOR JO5EP/l .J. f11 BY 44/7 '7 44 ATTORNEYS United States Patent WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Joseph J. Klee, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Application December. a, 1951, Serial No..259,557

1 Claim. or. 20-53 The present invention relates to improvements in window constructions, and particularly windows of the awning type wherein a plurality of sash members horizontally pivoted adjacent their upper rails are adapted. to be swung outwardly in unison to a full ventilating open position, and the invention aims generally. toimprove existing windows of this type.

Among the principal objects of the invention are to providev an awning type window and hardware construction designed to be set as a unit in wood casing or masonry opening; to provide an improved construction of metal frame and sash wherein the window opening is unob structed and the upper and lower rails of adjacent sash are in abutting relation when in closed position; to provide an improved combined sash-operating bar and hinge; to provide an improved construction of metal sash for awning type windows that may be arranged in vertical series without the necessity of bars or fixed divisional members in the frame between the top and bottom rails of adjacent sash-; to provide a sash-operating mechanism and Worm and gear operator that will permit the sash to an open position of 60 degrees, and preferably more, to obtain maximum. ventilation; to provide an improved awning type window in which the operating mechanism is mounted below the sill and the linkages are housed within the jambs concealed from view and the frame is provided with removable sections permitting ready access to the operating mechanism and linkages for adjustment and repair; to provide an improved construction of operating mechanism that will be of simple construction, easy to assemble and install in a window structure and which will operate the window sashes noiselessly and a minimum of effort on the part of the user; and to provide these and other objects of the invention as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification and the accompanying drawmgs. I

. .In the drawings, whereinis illustrateda preferred embodiment of the invention-- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of :an. awning type window according tothe invention, as viewed from the inside of the window, the sashv being shown in partially opened position; a

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view asviewed from the outside of the window;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary outside elevation of a window with the sash in closed position, a part of the sash and frame being broken away 'to show the construction of the sash hinge; V V v j V Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a window casing and sash according to one embodiment of the invention, the sash being illustrated in closed position in solid lines and in open position in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6" is a fragmentary outside elevation of a window with the sash closed, a portion of the casing being broken away to illustrate the operating mechanism;

2,742,676 l atented Apr. 24, 195.6

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Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of a portion of the side frame and a portion of a sash;

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the. rock shaft hanger bearing; and.

Fig. 1.0 is a detail sectional viewof a modified form of sill cover plate and screen mounting.

Referring to the drawings, the window of the present invention comprises a frame 10, preferably made of steel, aluminum, magnesium or the like, and having ahead '11, jambs 12 and a sill 13, suitably secured together in assembled relation by welding, riveting or other suitable manner.

Thev side frames 12 of the frame 1 0' are of box-type construction. advantageously formed from a channelshaped section of a special extruded shape as in the case of aluminum or magnesium frames (see Fig. 5). The jambs are constructed toprovide an outer vertically disposed plate member 15, preferably extending the full Width of the framezand' an inwardly spaced plate or jamb 16 of less width than the frame and terminating short of theinner edge thereof. The outer web-1 7' of the channel section. is preferably Z-shaped as shown in Fig. 5 to provide. a sash-receiving. channel 18, and said web. 17 may be further grooved .as at 19 outwardly of the channel 1 8' to receive a rubber OfPhfillOllC. Weatherstrip or seal 20 adapted to; be engaged by the sash'flange. The web 17 is further provided with a. trim flange or strip- 21 extending outwardly beyond the outer plate 15 to overlie the outer edge of a. wood or concrete casing C in which the frame is. set.

The inner side of the. jamh 1-2 is normally open and is: adapted to be closed by a removable cover plate '22 of generally right angled cross. section, one edge of which is. adapted to beseated; in a groove 23 between spaced inwardly directed flanges; 24 at. the inner edge of the plate 12 and the other edge of which may be removab'ly secured to. the inner edge of "the inner plate 16 as by removable. screws or other suitable fasteningsv 24. The inner-vertical wall of the removable cover strip 22 may beformed with a vertical channel or groove 25 to. provide a track for a Venetian blind guide. bar, not shown. Thev outer. jamb plate 12 may be provided with one or-rnore. holes 26' for the reception of nails or like fastenings. bymeans of which the frame'may be securely anchored to the wood or concrete casing C and; preferably these holes C are located above the sill 13. and toward the inneredge. of the jamb .soas to be readily accessible when the cover plate. 22 is. removed.

:The sill 13 preferably isof the 'boxetype and; advanr.

tageously' may be constructedof a' channel section simi'.- lar to the jambs but desirably of different erossseetiont.

As, illustrated (see Fig, 4), the sill channel may .compIise;

a bottomplate 3%) of the width of the frameya: front.

web 31, the upper portionv of which may be Z-shaped to provide a sash-receiving channel 32, disposed inthe;

plane of thejamb channels 18, and. an-upper inwardly extending sill 33 of less. width than the frame andpreferably terminating adjacent the. inner edge of the inner, side jambs 16.; The upper and inner sides of the side.

channel are thus normally open and are. adaptedqto he} closed by removable cover means including. a stooLsec;

tion 34 removably attached to the. sill section .33,-by screws or the. like 34% and apron sections35 havingv their.

of the removable cover plate 22, as by welding, The 7 front wall orweb 31 of the sill channel is preferably provided with a depending flange 38' overlyingthe. outside edge of" the casing C; and further may be pro vided, adjacent the sash-receiving channel, with a groove 39 for receiving a Weatherstrip or seal adapted to provide a seal with the window sash, as will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

The upper ends of the jambs 12 are connected by means of a header 11 comprising a plate secured at its ends to the upper ends of opposite jambs 12. The header plate 11 is advantageously formed with an outside upstanding flange 40 to which may be removably secured a removable weather drip flange 41 and a depending sash stop 42. A second depending sash stop 43 in the form of a depending flange may be formed on or secured to the header plate 11 for the purpose hereinafter described.

Awning type windows, to which the invention relates, comprise two or more sashes arranged in vertical tiers and pivoted adjacent their upper rails for outward swinging movement about their pivotal supports. Preferably means are provided engaging the opposite side rails of each sash for efiecting the swinging of all sash in unison, and desirably such means, including the hinges for the sash, are concealed from view, particularly when the sash are in closed position.

According to the invention, each sash member S desirably comprises a rectangular metal frame having an upwardly opening channelled top rail 50, a Z-shaped bottom rail 51 and Z-shaped side rails 52. The channelled top rails are disposed with the web extending horizontally and the inner flanges 53 and outer flanges 54 extend upwardly from the web to provide an upwardly opening channel. The outer flange 54 may be formed with a groove 55 to receive a Weatherstrip 20 to provide a weather seal in cooperation with a stop member which may be the flange 42 of the weather drip 41 in the case of the upper sash, or a depending flange of the lower rail 52 in the case of intermediate and lower sash members, as will be apparent from Fig. 4. The upper rail 50 is preferably provided with 21 depending flange 56 preferably in the plane of the inner flange 53 to provide a glass stop against which the glass pane may be installed.

The side rails 52 and bottom rail 51 of each sash S are advantageously formed of similar Z-shaped sections, the webs of which are disposed across the sash, the inner flange 57 extending inwardly therefrom in the plane of the glass stop 56 and the outer flanges 58 extending outwardly from the web and adapted to overlie a portion at least of the web 17 of the side frame 12 or the web 31 of the sill 13 and preferably to make sealing contact with the Weatherstrip packing in those respective members when the sash is closed. The lower rails may also be provided with a depending flange 59 to provide a stop for engagement with the upwardly extending flanges 53 of the bottom and intermediate sash members S. Preferably a substantial clearance exists between the webs of the side rails 51 and the portion 18 of the adjacent jamb 12 to provide a space for the sash arms secured to opposite side rails of each sash.

Each sash member S is pivotally supported in the frame 10 by hinge means located wholly between the inner and outer faces of the sash, and preferably slightly below the uppermost edges of the top rail. This is of advantage in that it eliminates the necessity of separate hinges extending outwardly of the sash as has heretofore been the case with awning type windows wherein the upper and lower rails of adjacent sash abut and have an interlocking fit with each other, and separate bars or frame members extending across the window opening are not required.

According to the invention, each sash S is supported at opposite side rails by means of a sash arm 60 having a straight hanger section 61 and an arcuate actuating section 62. The straight hanger section 61 is adapted to be fastened to the outer faces of the webs of the sash side rails, confined in the space between said webs and the opposite face of the sash-receiving channel 18 of the jamb 12. Preferably the connection between the hanger sections 61 of the sash arm and the sash side rails is an adjustable one to permit accurate alignment of the sash in the frame and such adjustment may conveniently be accomplished by securing the sash arms to the side rails by means of screws 63 extending through elongated openings 64 in the webs of the side rails.

The upper end of the hanger section 61 of the sash arm is formed with a circular openings 65 providing a female portion of a hinge, and preferably has its axis located in a plane immediately above the web of the top rail between and below the upper edges of the inner and outer flanges 53-54. The opening 65 receives a pintle 66 preferably of slightly greater length than the thickness of the sash arm 60, and is provided with an enlarged slotted head 67 and a reduced threaded end adapted to be threadedly fastened in a bearing block 68 attached to the inner face of the wall of the frame 10 opposite the sash-receiving channel 18, as is shown in Fig. 3. Thus the hinges for the sashes are confined between the inner and outer faces thereof and preferably below the upper edge of the top rail and are concealed when the sashes are closed.

The operator mechanism for the sashes is preferably housed in the sill member 13 preferably below the sill plate 33 and centrally between the jambs and the removable stool plate 34 so as to be concealed from view, and advantageously comprises rock shafts 70 of sufficient length to extend into the jambs. The operator mechanism preferably comprises a gear casing 71 having a centrally apertured top 72 and bifurcated sides 73 provided with transverse bearing openings 74. A worm gear 75 mounted on a square driven shaft 76 is mounted within the casing 71 between the sides 73 and the squared shaft 76 is fitted with bushings 77 having round outside diameters to rotate in fibre or other anti-friction bearings 78 fitted in the openings 74 of the sides 73. These fibre bearings reduce friction between the rotating surfaces and are noiseless, thus eliminating squeaking during operation of the operator mechanism.

A worm 79 having a square central opening is mounted in the casing '71 and disposed within the opening in the top 72 thereof. A squared shaft 80 is fitted within the square opening of the worm 79 and has its inner terminal end rotatably mounted in a fibre or like anti-friction bearing 81 and may be removably secured thereon by a pin 82 extending through the casing top 72 and fitted in a groove in the shaft. The opposite end of the shaft 80 is fitted with an operating handle 83 and an intermediate portion is fitted with a bushing 84, similar to the bushings 77, and rotatable in a fibre or like hearing 85.

The operating unit which includes the casing 71 and the worm and worm gear drive, above described, is removably mounted to the sill plate 33 of the sill member 13 by means of screws 86 threaded into openings 86 in the sides 73 of the casing 71 and opening through the top thereof. Preferably the operator casing 71 is disposed centrally of the width of the window frame 10 for better distribution of the load and to impart equalized lifting to opposite sides of the sash which is desirable for ease of operation and also to provide adequate clearance between operators in double windows where two tiers of sashes are disposed side by side. The gear casing unit 71 also includes a cover or name plate 88 between the casing and the handles 83 adapted to ,be removably secured to the apron sill sections 35 by removable fasteners such as screws 87.

The ends of the squared driven shaft 76 of the operator unit extend beyond the sides 73 of the casing and receive one end of the tubular rock shafts 70 which are provided with a squared bore 70. Thus a positive drive is assured to the rock shafts 70.

Each of the rock shafts 70 is in fibre or'like bushings 90 fitted in hanger bearings 91 (Fig. 9) removably fastened to the frame 10. These hanger bearings may be plate members having an upper extension 91 suitably secured as by screws 92 to the inner faces of the lower ends of the side jambs 16. Collars 93, pinned to the rock shafts 70, on opposite sides of the hanger bearing 91 prevent longitudinal movement of the rock shaft 70 relative to the drive shaft 76.

Secured to the terminal ends of the rock shafts 70 within the jam'bs are rocker arms 95 being preferably pinned to the tubular shaft to prevent slippage of one relative to the other. The ends of the rocker arms are pivotally connected to links 96 disposed within the jambs 12 between the outer plate 15 and the side jamb 16 by stud bolts 97, the opposite ends of the links 96 being pivotally connected to the inner end of the actuating section 62 of the lower sash arm 60. Other linkage connections 98 are provided for pivotally connecting the inner actuating ends of the lower sash arms 60 with the other sash arms 60 so that all sash may be opened and closed in unison.

As illustrated in Figs. and 6, the jambs 16 may each be provided adjacent their outer edges with a screen stop 100 to position a screen 101 within the window opening in close juxtaposition to the outwardly swung sash S. This is of advantage over existing awning type window construction wherein the screen is positioned at the inner section of the frame, in that the present construction permits of the use and access to a Venetian blind in the window opening interiorly of the screen.

If, however, it is desired to' have the screen disposed on the inside of the frame, an alternate construction shown in Fig. may be employed. According to this embodiment of the invention the removable sill apron sections 35 may be provided with ascreen stop 100 for the screen 101 and the cover or name plate 88 may be provided with an upwardly extending tab 102 to engage the inner face of the screen frame 101 and hold it securely against the stop 100*.

From the foregoing description it will readily be seen by persons skilled in the art that the present invention provides an extremely simple, yet attractive awning type window in which the operating mechanism and sash hinges are concealed from view. By mounting the operating mechanism within the sill frame and the linkage connections within the side frames these parts are pro tected against accumulation of dust and grit which tend to interfere with smooth operation of the parts, yet upon removal of the cover sections 22 and 33 these parts are rendered accessible for lubrication, adjustment or repan.

These cover sections may be readily removed by first removing the screws 24, 34- and 88, permitting the cover sections to be first raised to disengage the lower edge of the apron sections 35 from the groove 36 and then the sections may be removed from the frame. The novel construction of the sash hinges and sash operating bars permits the sash to be swung to an open position of 60 degrees or more, thus providing maximum ventilation. Further, the operating mechanism being of the self-locking worm and worm gear type, provides a minimum of back lash and prevents sash flutter frequently caused by gusts of wind. By mounting the operating mechanism centrally of .the window opening, equal distribution of the load is transmitted to the operator insuring balanced operation which not only contributes to ease of operation in opening the sash but prevents sagging of the sash at one corner, which so frequently occurs in awning type windows of prior existing constructions.

While I have illustrated and described one preferred embodiment of the invention, I do not intend that the invention be limited thereto as the scope is best defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

An awning type window construction comprising a I frame, including a header, lambs and a sill member, at

least jambs being of box-like construction including an outer wall and an inwardly spaced wall defining the window opening, a plurality of sashes disposed in vertical alignment in said frame so that the upper and lower rails of adjacent sashes are in abutment, means hingedly supporting each sash on the frame from within the marginal confines of the upper sash rails thereof, operating means for simultaneously opening and closing said sashes comprising a rock shaft, a pair of sash arms secured to the outer edges of the opposite side rails of each sash, the upper end of each sash arm being apertured to act as a female hinge element for said sash disposed within the planes of the marginal surfaces of the upper sash rail, an integral arcuate lifting arm extending from each sash arm at a point spaced substantially below said hinge element on a radius having its center substantially coaxial with said hinge element, and extending laterally inwardly therefrom to within the space between the outer and inner walls of said jambs, the outer wall of jamb having paired slotted openings through which the integral lifting arms of said paired sash arms pass, and linkage connections interconnecting said lifting arms and said rock shaft for swinging said sashes from a verticalclosed position to an angular opened position of at least degrees.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,131,251 Ferri Sept. 27, 1938 2,148,930 Douzille Feb. 28, 1939 2,267,140 Schotten'berg Dec. 23, 1941 2,366,339 Kump Jan. 2, 19'45 2,478,044 Gargiulo Aug. 2, 1949 2,478,061 Stearns Aug. 2, 1949 2,536,351 Bureau Jan. 2, 1951 2,551,590 Fern May 8, 1951 2,699,579 Jones Jam-18, ,1955 

